Take a breath from asthma! scientists advise
We all do it – a long, deep breath, known as a “sigh” to
express sadness, relief, or tiredness. It turns out that such sighs are
important for lung function. Recently, scientists from America have identified
the brain cells responsible for them.
On average, a person breathes every 5 minutes and about 12 times per hour. This
is necessary for the lungs to function properly. When you take a deep breath,
the alveoli of the lungs “swell up” – tiny sacs that promote gas exchange
between the lungs and blood flow. When the alveoli collapse, this lung function
is compromised. Then a sigh comes to the rescue, which straightens the
collapsed alveoli and brings twice as much air as with normal breathing. The
researchers found about 200 neurons in the brainstem that control breathing.
This information could one day help people who have difficulty breathing and
those with asthma. Summary: a deep breath is useful for asthma, and not holding
the breath, as Buteyko once advised!